Vietnam considers the strengthening of cooperation and friendship with China a consistent policy, a strategic choice, and a top priority in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralization of external relations,  Party General Secretary and President To Lam was quoted by the Vietnam News Agency as telling Mr. Zhao Leji, member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, during their meeting in Beijing on August 19.

The meeting was held as part of the Vietnamese leader’s State visit to China between August 18-20.

Party General Secretary and President To Lam affirmed that leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State commit to inheriting and upholding the political legacy of late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

He expressed readiness to work closely with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and other key Chinese leaders, including Chairman Zhao, to build a fine and reliable working relationship with the same orientations for the continuous development of ties between the two Parties and countries.

The Vietnamese leader congratulated China on its remarkable achievements, notably its success in reaching the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

Mr. Zhao affirmed that China views Vietnam as a priority in its policy of neighborhood diplomacy.

The Chinese Party, State and people wish to continuously strengthen, maintain and foster the friendly neighborliness and fraternal ties with Vietnam, actively build a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, contributing to the modernization of socialism in both countries, the Chinese leader said.

Party General Secretary and President To Lam suggested that the National Assembly of Vietnam and the National People's Congress of China continue facilitating the exchange of all-level delegations, including interactions among members of specialized committees, friendship parliamentarians’ groups, local People's Congresses of China and municipal and provincial People's Councils of Vietnam. This, he believed, would solidify the friendship and cooperation between the two legislatures and ensure the effective implementation of cooperation agreements.

Additionally, he called for increasing the sharing of experience in law building, and further upholding the role of supervising and hastening the two governments to realize common perceptions and agreements reached by high-ranking leaders, and improve the effectiveness of substantive cooperation in various fields.

The Vietnamese leader also stressed the need for mutual support at global and regional inter-parliamentary forums, and close coordination in implementing international treaties to which both sides are members, for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Chairman Zhao agreed with the Vietnamese leader’s views on developing the relations between the two Parties and States, enhancing the exchange and cooperation between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the National People’s Congress of China, and carrying out the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

He suggested both sides unceasingly improve transport connections, particularly railway and road, and promote cross-border cooperation area building, affirming that China stands ready to import the agricultural products of Vietnam’s strengths, accelerate projects to improve people’s livelihoods, organize various friendship activities to mark the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2025, and rationally handle issues related to border and territory.

The Chinese leader also affirmed that the National People’s Congress of China is willing to step up and further deepen the friendship exchange and substantive cooperation with the National Assembly of Vietnam, contributing to building the Vietnam-China community with a shared future to bring practical benefits to the two nations and their people.